Archaeologists Discover 200-Year-Old Illegal Whisky Site Hidden in Scottish Hills

Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of an illegal whisky distilling site that had been hidden for more than 200 years in a remote gully in Scotland.

The discovery included part of a copper still, along with stones and a timber post from a small structure known as a bothy, which was once used to house the equipment.

The find dates back to a time when illegal whisky production was widespread. The trade grew rapidly in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, especially after the 1788 Excise Act made it illegal to use small household stills.

The site was discovered by archaeologists and volunteers working with the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) at Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve, near Killin in Perthshire.

Before the excavation, the team had suspected that a stone structure located in a gully along a stream called Lawers Burn might have been used to hide an illicit still.

During the dig, they uncovered remains of the bothy, including a hearth, a drainage system beneath a stone floor, and a timber post that once supported the roof.

One of the most significant finds was a piece of copper alloy, believed to have been used as a connector between two parts of the still.

According to NTS, there are now five known illicit still bothies in the reserve. However, this is the first time a piece of a copper still has been found at any of the sites.

Derek Alexander, head of archaeology at the trust, described the discovery as an important glimpse into the past.

“This is a wonderful example of how archaeology can tell a gripping story of spirit smuggling that would otherwise have been lost to time.

“In the early 19th century, illicit whisky distilling in these hills became a real battle of wits between excise officers and distillers.

“To find the remains of stills in these upland areas, you need to think like an excise officer.

“Those who distilled spirit in this bothy will have picked the location carefully to make sure they were well hidden.

“This bothy is well concealed along one arm of the Lawers Burn, nestled in a burn gulley where there’s a slight bend in the burn to shield the site from both upstream and downstream.

“The people who distilled here knew what they were doing and it’s possible the still was never seized by the authorities.

“If the still had been found by the excise officers, the still would’ve been taken away and destroyed.

“So, the fact we’ve found this connecting piece here suggests the still was dismantled in a hurry and its components whisked away by the smugglers as they dispersed.

“The connecting piece may have been forgotten in the rush and left behind.

“Distillers of illicit whisky would’ve travelled light and left little trace of their activity, and so a find like this is especially rare and exciting.

“It gives us a glimpse into an activity that was once rife in the hills of Ben Lawers and which was seen by many as an act of community resistance.”